The dollar dance: Money-saving tips
By ROBYN PASSANTE
Wedding Showcase editor
Just like snowflakes, no two weddings are exactly alike. There are thousands of different dress styles, hundreds of flower bouquet combinations and at least a million ways to say, "I do."
But there is one similarity to most wedding plans -- the fine line couples walk between planning the wedding day of their dreams and trying to avoid the ensuing debt of their nightmares.
Along with the help of family, friends, in-laws, books, intuition and the Internet, here are a few tried and true helpful hints to make you smile just a bit wider on that special day.
THE BUDGET
First thing's first -- finalizing a wedding budget and sticking to it. The key word here is realistic. Find out exactly how much both sets of parents are willing to contribute, as well as how much money you realistically can afford to spend.
Start saving early. A lot of couples say the rule of putting aside $20 to 50 per paycheck really helps. Take a look at how you both normally spend money and try to curb even one or two of your usual habits. Buying sodas at the grocery store and bringing them to work, brown-bagging it for lunch, and renting a movie instead of heading out on the town are all painless ways to save a pretty penny.
However you decide to save some extra cash, the trick is to put it in a separate wedding bank account. This way you will be less likely to take little bits out for other things you "need," and you'll have a clearer idea of how much you have to spend.
Whenever possible, do wedding-related tasks yourself, or ask crafty friends and relatives for help. Chances are, you know calligraphers, seamstresses, favor-makers and musicians just waiting to be asked.
THE DRESS
Purchase a gown through the mail. Check out America's Bridal Discounters (www.bridaldiscounters.com) or Discount Bridal Service (www.discountbridalservice.com). They both sell bridesmaid gowns, flower girl dresses and accessories as well. Just remember that you won't get the individual attention, frills and alterations that you would with a regular retail bridal shop.
Wear a white bridesmaid dress or less formal gown. After trying on countless expensive wedding gowns, my one thrifty bride spotted a white bridesmaid gown, tried it on and fell in love. She looked absolutely stunning and spent $50. Wow!
Rent a gown. Many brides turn their noses up at this idea but when you think about it, it really is an awfully huge expense for one day's wear. The dresses are professionally cleaned after each rental and can give you the elegance of a gown that would retail for $1000-2000, for half the price.
Buy a sample dress. Though some of the dresses in a typical bridal shop may get a little shop-worn with time, many are in great condition and can be bought off the rack at considerable savings. Check the paper for local sales on in-stock dresses at your local bridal shops.
Wear your mom's gown. It's easy to think anything your mother wears is not for you, but take another look at that old wedding photo and you'd be surprised. Many of the simple, classically elegant styles of yesterday are creeping back into the market today. Plus, the money you save can be used to make a few embellishments to make the dress uniquely yours.
THE RECEPTION SITE
Consider an off-peak time. A Saturday afternoon wedding may be the bride's first choice, but Friday evening and Sunday afternoon weddings are often just as lovely and much less expensive.
Have a reception brunch or lunch instead of a sit-down dinner. The most expensive meal you can serve your guests is obviously dinner. Having the reception a bit earlier and serving lighter foods is a great cost-cutting strategy. Plus, people tend to drink less alcohol, which also saves money.
Have it at your house. Some of the best wedding reception memories are made in the most comfortable of all settings -- your home.
Get creative. Instead of the traditional ballrooms and banquet halls, look into university buildings, community parks, beaches, church halls, art galleries, museums and restaurants.
FOOD AND LIQUOR
Feeding 200 people is a daunting task, not to mention an expensive one. Once again, think realistic. If you're having a sit-down dinner, do you really need soup and salad? Do you need to give your guests three choices of entree?
When it comes to appetizers, having them passed around on silver platters is generally much more expensive than having a simple hors d'oeuvres table of fresh fruit, vegetables and cheeses.
A lot of reception packages come with extras you might not want. For example, a fruit punch fountain or champagne toast may be included. But do enough of your guests even like champagne for this to be a bargain? Try haggling for the caterer to take this off the price, or trade one service for another you'd rather have.
If you want open bar, consider ways to save money. Limit the hours of open bar, only serve beer and wine for free, or have the open bar include only house liquor brands instead of the more expensive premium brands. Better yet, see if your caterer will allow you to bring in your own liquor and just pay the bartender a serving fee.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Hire a professional for the ceremony only. The photos that make up the average wedding album are mostly taken before, during and immediately after the wedding, so ask the photographer for a ceremony-only package that includes just a couple hours of his time to capture these important moments. Then make sure to designate reliable, camera-touting people at the reception to snap the photos of your reception events (cake cutting, first dance, etc.).
Buy the album somewhere else. You can find beautiful, do-it-yourself albums for a fraction of what most photographers cost to make one up for you.
Check with your local newspaper or school's photography department. Just ask to see a portfolio first.
FLOWERS
Use flowers that are in-season or locally grown. They're often much less expensive and just as pretty!
Try dried or silk flowers, or mix them in with fresh flowers. Use lots of greenery, which is less expensive and looks just as lush.
Think simple and elegant. Walking down the aisle with just a few stunning blooms, tied with long ribbons, is a classy look that saves.
MISCELLANEOUS
When it comes to invitations, choose thermographed instead of engraved. The difference is in the printing process, but they look virtually the same. Thermographed stationery can cost up to 50-percent less than engraved.
If you want to buy printed napkins, order the smallest amount possible and intersperse them with cheaper ones of coordinating colors from a discount store. Not many people actually save the keepsake napkins, so don't waste a lot of extra money on them.
Alcohol at a reception means a smaller cake. If you are having any sort of open bar, people tend to fill up on alcohol and food and don't leave enough room for cake. Plus, many won't mix sweets with alcohol.
When it comes to music, try the local college for student musicians willing to sing or play for less.
With a little creative thinking and a lot of planning, you can save big bucks on your wedding day without compromising the quality or magic of the moment!
